THE Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Daramola, has appealed to youths in the region to embrace peace to attract development to the area.
Daramola made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okitipupa, Ondo State, on Friday.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to refocusing the energies of intervention agencies toward sustainable development and youth empowerment. “We call on all youths to eschew violence and embrace peace. It is only when we embrace peace that development can come to an area,’’ he said. According to him, the frequency of cult clashes, violence and destruction of oil and gas pipelines among youths in the region is embarrassing and constituting a clog in the wheel of progress.
“No development will take place if the youths continue their violence behaviour,’’ he said. Daramola promised that the ministry would continue to improve the lives of the people of the region, especially the youths and women.
“As we undertake to develop the Niger Delta and build capacity, we will ensure that the youths and women are not left out because they have the capacity to contribute meaningfully.
“It is important to be loyal and cooperate as government rolls out some programmes for development of our region.
“We will soon embark on an empowerment programme in the region that will touch so many lives.’’
The minister urged all the people to thrown their weight behind the change mantra of the present government.